Fastener inserting tool



Aug. 23, 1955 T. PACKARD FASTENER INSERTING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, 1952 m m WW m N r a Z United States Patent Ofi "rice 2,715,730 Patented Aug. 23, 1955 FASTENER INSERTING TOOL Theodore Packard, East Orange, N. J., assignor to E. B. Packard Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 10, 1952, Serial No. 275,830

4 Claims. (Cl. 1-50) This invention relates to wood fasteners and to a tool for inserting the fasteners in the wood.

In application Serial No. 105,678, filed July 20, 1949, and issued as United States Letters Patent Number 2,596,181, on May 13, 1952, there is described and illustrated a wood fastener for fastening a wooden miterjoint, the fastener being characterized in that some of the teeth are so arranged that as the fastener is forced into the wood the two portions of the wood to be joined are drawn together. Subsequently it was found that by a further alteration of some of the teeth a fastener of substantially improved characteristics could be made and of a type readily adapted for countersinking by various forms of a simple and especially designed tool.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a fastener that will more thoroughly draw the parts of a miter-joint together than heretofore possible.

An additional object is to provide a fastener that will become locked in the wood while drawing the parts of the miter-joint together.

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide a fastener that will substantially reduce crushing and splitting of the wood as compared with known similar devices.

A further object is to provide tools that will both guide the fastener during insertion and countersink the fastener after insertion so that the fasteners will not bend during insertion and by countersinking will permit the wood to be finished.

Still other objects of the instant invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the attainment of the aforesaid objectives, the improved wood fastener is constituted of a substantially flat body divided by the vertical center line into two similar portions forming a right angle with each other. Each similar side of the fastener adjacent the free end is turned laterally inwardly at a right angle to the side. Along the bottom edge of each side of the fastener and adjacent the vertical center line is one-half of a central tooth, each half of the central tooth being bent outwardly to more thoroughly.,draw the portions of a miter-joint together as the fastener is inserted. At the free end of each side of the fastener is an end tooth, a portion of which is turned laterally inwardly at a right angle to the side to form a virtual anchor across the grain and to further minimize splitting and crushing of the wood. The angular design of the fastener is utilized in providing a tool for guiding-the fastener into the wood and for counter-sinking the fastener in the wood. The tool is made in four forms, in one form it is constituted of a I holder of square cross section suitably dimensioned so that the top or upper edge of one of the fasteners can be slip fitted over the end of the holder. An impeller is slidably inserted on the holder and in operable engagement with the upper edge of the fastener. By making the length of the impeller greater than that of the holder and equipping the holder with a handle, the fastener can be guided into the wood and countersunk by striking the protruding end of the impeller. The tools of the second, third, and fourth forms differ from the first primarily in the holder. The holder of the second form is a resilient cap having an integrally formed handle. In the third form, the holder and handle are made from a single flat strip while in the fourth form the holder and integrally formed handle are die stamped from a sheet of resilient material.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing by way of illustration the preferred embodiments of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the fastener constructed. in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the fastener taken along 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fastener shown in Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the fastener shown in Figure 1 inserted across a wooden miter-joint.

Figures 5 and 6 show the first form of the tool for inserting the fastener shown in Figure 1 and in which:

Figure 5 is a plan view of the tool; and

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the tool shown in Figure 5 in part section;

Figures 7 and 8 show the second form of the tool for inserting the fastener shown in Figure 1 and in which:

Figure 7 is a plan view of the tool; and

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the tool shown in Figure 7.

Figures 9, 10, and 11 show the third form of the tool for inserting the fastener shown in Figure l and in which:

Figure 9 is a plan view of the blank for forming the tool but on an enlarged scale;-

Figure 10 is a plan view of the tool formed from the blank shown in Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is' an elevational view of the tool shown in. Figure 10.

Figures 12 and 13 show the fourth form of the tool and in which;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the tool; and

Figure 13 is an elevational view of the tool shown in Figure 12.

Referring now in greater detail to the fastener shown in Figures 14, where like reference numerals indicate like parts, reference numeral 10 indicates the fastener, and 11 a miter-joint.

The fastener 10 is constituted of a substantially fiat body portion made from any suitably rigid material. However, by using the later described tools, the fastener 10 can be made from less rigid material than that now used for making similar fasteners but of different design. The aforementioned body portion is turned laterally along the vertical center line 12 until the included angle between the sides is a right angle. Of course, each turned side is of equal length and adjacent the free end one side is turned laterally inwardly along the line 13 and the opposite side along the line 14, and the turned end extremities forming a right angle with the respective sides. Thus, the sides between the vertical center line and the lines of turning 13 and 14 form two sides of a square. The fastener 7 has an upper edge 15, a central tooth 16, an outer tooth 17 and an intermediate tooth 18.

The outer edge 19 of each half portion 16 of the central tooth is substantially vertical or parallel to the vertical center line 12 while the inner edge 20 extends upwardly from a point on the outer edge of each portion of the tooth to a common point on the vertical center line 12. The tip or point of each half of the central tooth is curved outwardly relative to the plane of the side as illustrated.

The shape of the edges of the central tooth portions draws the two parts'of the miter-joint together along one line while the outwardly curved surface of each portion of the tooth draws the joint. together alongother lines.

Eithe'r could be used separately but in combination provide a miter-jOiQt Of high quality. I V

Each outer tooth 17 is of V shape withthe point of the tooth on the lineof turning 13 or 14 as the case may be. 'Theinner edge 21' of each outertooth is inclined inwardly and upwardly from the line of turningto a point on a line 22 parallel to the center line 12, the line 22' forming the remainder of the inner edge ,of each outer toothlf'The outer, edge of each outer tooth extends out wardlylaiid upwardly (Fig. 4) from the bottom of the edge 21 to intersect the edge 23.

Intermediate each portion ofthe central tooth and 7 each outer tooth 17 is an intermediate tooth 18 of V- shape but having a height less than that of the central and'ou ter teeth. Each intermediate tooth 18 serves to part the wood and thereby facilitates the entrance of the web'24 of the fastener into the wood.

Referring now to the first form of the tool for inserting a and countersinking the fastener iiito the wood and shown in Figures 5 and 6, reference numeral indicates the tool,.a nd 31 a part of the wood into which the fastener is being inserted.

The tool 30 is constituted of the holder 32, the handle 33, and the impeller 34. v

The holder 32 is of-square cross section, the length of each side of which is equal to the length of the sides of the fastener 10, allowing a suflicient tolerance in the length of the sides of the square, so that the top of a fastener 10 can be slip fitted over one end of the holder.

The handle 33is attached to the holder in a known manner and in such position that the longitudinal center line of the handle will bisect opposite angles of the holder while also being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal center linelthereof. By this construction; three of the spaced parallel edges of the square holder are available for releasably. securing the fastener thereon.

The impeller 34 is designed to be reciprocable on the.

holder 32 so that the side members 35 and 36 have a width substantially equal to the width of the faces of the holder ly along the holder without interference with the handle.

*Itis obvious that the cross section of the holder can be made to fit other types of fasteners with the design of the impeller altered for reciprocation on the head. It is further obvious that when the impeller is designed to fit .completely along" the upper edge of the fastener, insertion of thefastener is facilitated compared with the use of a hammer head which is seldom of sulhcie'nt size or properly directed to deliver a force along the complete upper edge of the fastener. v

. Referring now' to the second form of the tool shown Figures '7' and 8, reference numeral 40 indicates the holder, 41 the handle, and 42 the impe1le'r.

The holder 40 is constituted of a square head 43 integrally formed with the handle 41, As will be seen in Figure 8, theplane of the square head is in the plane of the handle and as shown in Figure 7, the longitudinal center line of the handle. extended will bisect opposite right angles of the square head. Each side 44 and 45 of the squarehead is substantially equal to the sides of the fastener 10 between the center line 12 and the lines of turning 13 and 14 (Fig. 1). g I

integrally formed with and downwardly directed from each of the sides 443ml 45 of the square head, that. is the sides o'pposite the handle, is a flange or skirt 46, only one of which is illustrated. Integrally formed with and down wardly directed from each of the sides 47 and 48 are similar flanges or skirts 49. Of course the width of the skirts 49 will be less than the width of the previously mentioned skirts 46 because of the position of the handle 41.

The impeller 42 is similar to the previously described impelle'r'of the firstform although it need not have so great a height as long as the height is greater than the height of the skirts, theheight of each ofiwhich is equal.

The bottom of the impeller 42 is in operable engage.

ment with the top or upper edge of the fastener 10 which in turn is slip fitted over the downwardly directed ends of the skirts. The teeth of the fastener will, of course, be downwardly directed. J 7

Referring now to the third form of the tool shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11 reference numeral 60 indicates the holder, 61 the handle, and 62 the impeller. p V

Both the holder 60 and the handle 61 are integrally formed from the blank 63 (Fig-9).

The blank 63 is a flat rectangular strip of any suitable material and is formed into the hold'er60 and handle 61 as follows: The blank 63 is turned laterally outwardly along the line 69 until the angle at (Fig; 10) is 135". The" portion 65 is thenturned laterally inwardly along the line 66 until the plane of the portions65 and 67 form a right angle. The portion 68 is next turned'laterally inwardly along the line until the plane thereofv forms a i'i ghtl angle with the plane of the portion 65. The portion 70 is next turned laterally inwardly along the line 72 until the plane thereof forms .a right angle with the plane of the. portion 68. Finallythe portion 71, which may be of any reasonable length, is turned laterally outwardly until the 'plane thereof forms an angle e equalto 135 with the plane of the portion 70 whereupon the portion 71 will be superposed onthe handle 61 to which it is fastened by spot welding or the like. 7

The impeller 62 and the fastener 10 are similar to' the corresponding parts of the first and second forms previously described and illustrated and operate in substan- 1 tially the same manner.

7 Referring now to thefourth form of the tool shown inFigures 12 and. 13, reference numeral indicates the holder, 81 the handle, and 82 the impeller.

Both the holder so and the handle 81 are integrally.

formed by die stamping or otherwisecut'ting from a strip of substantially resilient material such as felt. f

The shape and size, of the holderand the pos'itionof the handle are substantially the same as the corresponding parts of the first three formspreviously described. The impeller 82 and the fastener 10 are also similar to the similar parts of the other forms. The advantage obtained in the use of the tool of thefourth form arises from the fact that the .wood inwhich the fastener is being inserted is not marred if a force. isdirected t'o the head or top ,of the impeller when the impeller is below the plane thereof. L

The operation with the fastener. and the tools will be apparent from the preceding description and while there is above disclosed butone form of. the fastener and four forms ofthe tool, it will. bea'ppa'rent that the contour of the tool'holder can be varied for; adaption to otherv types of fasteners. It will also be apparent thatthe tool holder may be made ofvarious materials While. the impeller must be of reasonably hardened material for the propulsion of the fastener which, in mm, may be of softer ma:

te'rial than now used in the. manufacture of similar fa's? teners. .Hence,.it is desired that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated therein, or required by the prior art. 2 1

What is claimed is: 1. A tool forfacilitating the insertion of wood fasteners, the fasteners being of angular form with the sides at the apex extending laterally atan angle; the tool comprising a holder for thefas tener, the holder having a cross section of right angular form with the sides substantially equal to the sides of the fastener forming the apex thereof, a handle member disposed on the holder, the longitudinal center line of the handle member being substantially perpendicular to that of the holder and bisecting opposite right angles thereof, and an impeller reciprocable on the holder, the impeller having formed therein a longitudinal opening coacting with the holder and further having a length greater than that of the holder.

2. A tool for facilitating the insertion of wood fasteners, the fasteners being of angular form with the sides at the apex of equal length and turned laterally at a right angle and with the free end of each side of equal length turned at a right angle laterally inwardly; the tool comprising a holder for the fasteners, the holder comprising a square head, a handle member integrally formed with the square head at one corner, the handle member being in the plane of the head and having a longitudinal center line extended bisecting the angle of the corner, a skirt integrally formed with the sides of the square head opposite the handle member and on the sides of the head adjacent the handle member, the skirts being of equal length and extending from the head, an impeller reciprocable on the skirts of the holder, the impeller having formed therein a longitudinal opening coacting with the holder and further having a length greater than that of the skirts.

3. A tool for facilitating the insertion of wood fasteners, the fasteners being of angular form with the sides of the apex of equal length and extending laterally at a right the strip, and an impeller reciprocable on the hollow square, the impeller having formed therein a longitudinal opening coacting with. the strip and further having a length greater than the width of the strip.

4. A tool for facilitating the insertion of wood fasteners, the fasteners being of angular form with the sides at the apex of equal length and extending laterally at a right angle and with the free end of each side extending at a right angle laterally inwardly at equal distances from the apex; the tool comprising a substantially flat resilient body, said body having a holder for the fastener formed at one end, the holder being of square cross section and adapted to engage the fastener, the holder further having an integrally formed handle member, the longitudinal center line of the handle member bisecting one of the corners of the square holder, and an impeller reciprocable on the holder, the impeller having formed therein a longitudinal opening coacting with the holder and further having a length greater than the thickness of the flat resilient member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 218,227 Brown Aug. 5, 1879 260,608 Retnour July 4, 1882 528,406 White Oct. 30, 1894 610,405 Lacoste Sept. 6, 1898 1,908,824 Devendar May 16, 1933 2,008,890 Weinstein July 23, 1935 2,558,131 Green June 26, 1951 2,561,879 Morvey July 24, 1951 2,569,532 Marshall Oct. 2, 1951 2,596,181 Soderberg May 13, 1952 2,635,237 Langer Apr. 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 285,204 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1928 689,127 France May 20, 1930 

